Westmoreland Bar Association blogshttp://www.westbar.org/blog
TestingenWestmoreland County Court Language Access Planhttp://www.westbar.org/node/415
<p>The Westmoreland County Court Language Access Plan (LAP) required by the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts became effective March 1, 2015. The goal of the LAP is to provide meaningful access to the court services for persons with limited English Proficiency (LEP) or who are deaf or hard of hearing. The forms to be utilized in implementing the LAP can be found on the Court Administration section of the Court's website.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/index.aspx?nid=2068">Additional Info...</a></p>
Fri, 13 Mar 2015 13:31:16 +0000westbar415 at http://www.westbar.orgThe Future of Legal Education--PBI's Ground-breaking "Virtual Town Hall"http://www.westbar.org/node/414
<p>On March 31, 2015, The Pennsylvania Bar Institute will initiate a dialog about the future of legal education.</p>
<p>Bringing together the organized bar, law schools, CLE providers, and leading practitioners from the private and corporate bar, this international webcast will focus on identifying specific knowledge, skills, competencies, and personal and character traits that epitomize exceptional lawyers in the 21st century. The remarkable panel will also discuss how we can best train lawyers, from the beginning of law school through retirement, to achieve these characteristics as early as possible in each lawyer&rsquo;s career.&nbsp;Jon Delano, a Pittsburgh lawyer, television legal/business reporter and professor at Carnegie Mellon University&rsquo;s Heinz College of Public Policy and Management, moderates this look into the future.&nbsp;Celebrating its 50th year as a leader of the CLE community in Pennsylvania and nationally, PBI is dedicated to making learning dynamic. Each panelist brings exceptional knowledge and experience in training lawyers to this fascinating discussion.</p>
<p>Live Webcast Information<br />
Start Time: March 31, 2015 12:00 PM Eastern<br />
Estimated Length: 2 hours<br />
Registration Fee: $50.00<br />
Enter coupon code &quot;townhall_nocredit&quot; to take this course for free without CLE credit.<br />
Registration link:&nbsp;<a href="http://catalog.pbi.org/store/seminar/seminar.php?seminar=38472" target="_blank">http://catalog.pbi.org/store/seminar/seminar.php?seminar=38472</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.westbar.org/node/414" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Thu, 12 Mar 2015 20:34:12 +0000westbar414 at http://www.westbar.orgPA criminal case data now interactive and available online http://www.westbar.org/node/413
<p><em>Data dashboards identify court trends and serve as valuable resource for court management</em></p>
<p> <strong>HARRISBURG&mdash;</strong>Pennsylvania&rsquo;s judiciary today unveiled criminal caseload &ldquo;dashboards,&rdquo; the latest in a series of interactive, web-based data visuals that allow the public, court staff and researchers to quickly analyze and interpret data related to criminal cases. </p>
<p>The new dashboards provide a detailed look at statewide criminal caseloads, and an overview of each county&rsquo;s criminal case activity over the course of a calendar year. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.westbar.org/node/413" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:20:59 +0000westbar413 at http://www.westbar.orgNotice on civil/orphans' court motionshttp://www.westbar.org/node/411
<p>NOTICE: <strong>President Judge McCormick, Jr.</strong> will <u>not</u> be hearing civil or orphans&rsquo; court motions on <strong>Friday, April 10, 2015</strong>. Counsel should make arrangements to present motions on a prior or subsequent Friday.</p>
Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:24:40 +0000westbar411 at http://www.westbar.orgNotice on civil/orphans' court motionshttp://www.westbar.org/node/408
<p>NOTICE: <strong>President Judge McCormick, Jr.</strong> and <strong>Judge Regoli</strong> will <u>not</u> be hearing civil and orphans&rsquo; court motions on <strong>Friday, February 27, 2015.</strong> </p>
<p>Counsel should make arrangements to present motions on a prior or subsequent Friday.</p>
Mon, 09 Feb 2015 20:40:28 +0000westbar408 at http://www.westbar.orgAOPC Seeks Input on Public Access Policy for Appellate and Trial Court Case Recordshttp://www.westbar.org/node/407
<p><u><em><strong>From the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts<br />
</strong></em></u><br />
HARRISBURG &mdash; The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) is seeking comment on a proposed public access policy concerning case records of the appellate and trial courts. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.westbar.org/node/407" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Mon, 09 Feb 2015 20:12:21 +0000westbar407 at http://www.westbar.orgSupreme Court enhances protection of client funds invested by attorneyshttp://www.westbar.org/node/399
<p><u><em><strong>From the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts</strong></em></u></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>HARRISBURG</strong> &mdash; Attorneys investing funds for clients will be subject to stricter standards of accountability under new rules adopted today by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>The changes, which enhance accountability when attorneys invest client funds, take effect in 60 days.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The integrity of our legal system depends a great deal on the professionalism and accountability of attorneys,&rdquo; said Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille. &ldquo;These new rules serve as a reminder that attorneys are obligated to live up to the trust people put in them by working diligently and honestly or face serious consequences.&rdquo;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.westbar.org/node/399" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Tue, 30 Dec 2014 14:38:48 +0000westbar399 at http://www.westbar.orgNew REV-1500 formhttp://www.westbar.org/node/396
<p><u><em><strong>From&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 20.1599998474121px;">Sherry Magretti Hamilton, Esq/MBA,&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 20.1599998474121px;">Chief Deputy Register of Wills<br />
</span></strong></em></u><span style="line-height: 20.1599998474121px;"><br />
</span>As some of you may know, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has updated the &ldquo;REV-1500&rdquo; form. The revisions are expected to increase the department&rsquo;s efficiency in processing the inheritance tax returns. <a href="http://www.westbar.org/pdf/New REV-1500.docx">Click here for the outline of changes provided by the state</a>. If you have any questions, please contact our office.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p></p>
Mon, 22 Dec 2014 19:07:24 +0000westbar396 at http://www.westbar.orgNotice on civil/orphans' court motionshttp://www.westbar.org/node/395
<p><strong>President Judge McCormick, Jr., Judge Marsili</strong>, and <strong>Judge Regoli</strong> will not be hearing civil or orphans&rsquo; court motions on <strong>Friday, December 26, 2014</strong>. Counsel should make arrangements to present motions on a prior or subsequent Friday.</p>
Thu, 18 Dec 2014 21:44:23 +0000westbar395 at http://www.westbar.orgNew rules adopted to enhance court reporting serviceshttp://www.westbar.org/node/394
<p><u><b><i>From the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts</i></b></u></p>
<p>HARRISBURG &mdash; The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has adopted a comprehensive set of new rules governing court reporting operations to standardize services provided to judges, lawyers and citizens in each of the Commonwealth&rsquo;s 60 judicial districts.</p>
<p>The move to replace an existing set of standards that were in place since 1981 was driven as much by technological advancements as a desire to unify a sometimes confusing mix of court reporting processes in districts across the state. The new rules bring greater clarity to the uniform production, ownership and fees for official transcripts of court hearings and other proceedings.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.westbar.org/node/394" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:02:22 +0000westbar394 at http://www.westbar.org